Siduri Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002

Yes, yes, I know. I've been gone a while. Work has me going days, and a trip to L.A. took some time away. I did get to have dinner with my mother's broker, Jeff Pierce of A.G. Edwards in Laguna Beach, California, and together we drank Aubert Chardonnay, Roar Pinot Noir, and a wine from (as I recall) Kentucky. Yeah, that Kentucky. But he'll send me a review later on that wine to post. Suffice it to say that the tasting comments ranged from cherries to paint thinner. Best forgotten. The other two however.....sorry no notes, were excellent!

But tonight I thought I would give one of my old friends, Siduri a try. After scrounging around the cellar I settled on the Keefer Ranch from 2002. Unfortunately, the Siduri website has no info for the vintage and pretty much none for the vineyard.

Keefer Ranch is in Sonoma's Green Valley appellation. Think Martinelli.

It's a very pretty area dominated by farm land, horses, ranches (DOH!) and winding roads. Some of the other wineries using Keefer Ranch for fruit are Failla, Flowers, Loring, and a host of others I have never heard of. Let's just say that these Keefer folks grow some good grapes. And after four years in bottle the Siduri version is singing!

Smooth and elegant, this Pinot has what one would expect from a well known winemaker with quality fruit. A ripe nose of forward fruit, cranberries, cherries and spice, with a long slow comfortable finish on the tongue that says, "I am Pinot hear me sing!"

There are competing views on California Pinot consumption. (Notice that I excluded anything from abroad.) Some, like Brian Loring of Loring Wine Company, (forgive me Brian if I misquote) prefer their Pinot young and fresh, with all the brightness a young wine can offer.

Others like me prefer the wine has time to better become integrated, with at least some time in bottle to round out the edges, and smooth the tannins. But it's just personal preference.

This Pinot has what I like. It represents the top of west coast Pinot Noir, from which we can compare other wines we may have the good fortune to drink.

Expect to pay about $50 for most Siduri wines. They also produce the line of non-Pinot wines, Novy Family Wines. Adam's wife's family winery. These typically represent good value wines including Syrah, Zin and Cabernet. They are worth a try as well.